Last month, Keith Ervin, a member of the Washington County Board of Education in Tennessee, made headlines after he was heard calling a female student "hot" during a live-streamed school board meeting.
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The incident took place on April 2. Now Ervin is facing an assault charge resulting from the incident.
What Happened at the School Board Meeting?
During the meeting, the student, high school senior Hannah Campbell, sat at a large table as the adult board members discussed potential school restructuring and curriculum.
Ervin sat on one side of Campbell, Superintendent Jerry Boyd on the other. After Campbell spoke, Ervin then put his arm around Campbell's shoulder and said, "God, you're hot, you know that? Where do you go to school at?"
After Campbell pulled away, Ervin squeezed her shoulder again.
According to the New York Post, court records show that charges have now been filed against Ervin.
The Student Has Since Spoken Up Against Ervin
No one addressed Ervin's actions during the meeting itself, but the backlash against the school board member was swift. A petition to remove Ervin from the school board was created, and he was eventually censured.
Campbell fired back at Ervin during another school board meeting earlier this month. In a four-minute speech, Campbell said she does not forgive Ervin and called other board members "cowards" for not standing up for her.
"I do not accept your fake apologies used to protect yourselves," she said. "I do not believe that you deserve that peace of mind. Every time that you feel a little bit of discomfort from the public, I want you to remember that it isn't even a fraction of what I felt on April 2nd."
Since Ervin is an elected official, he cannot be terminated from his position. At the time, Ervin stood by his comments, claiming they were taken out of context.
He said, "She was a top-notch student board member, and she was asking real smart questions. And I reached over, and I touched her on the shoulder, and I said, 'You're hot. You're good. You're one of the best I've seen.'"
The Washington County School District said it was aware of Ervin's indictment.
"The Board reiterates that Mr. Ervin's actions do not reflect the standards, policies, or values of the school district," it said in a statement. "The Board remains committed to ensuring a safe, respectful, and appropriate environment for all students and staff."
Ervin is scheduled to appear in court Aug. 7.
